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| Press Release |
Press Release
HOT SHOOTING CARRIES SMC TO SWEEP OF FRANKLIN PIERCE
SMC women rally for first league win, 65-52; Sorrentine carries men in nightcap, 80-73FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION
January 8, 2005 Contact: Seth Cole
Phone: (802) 654-2537COLCHESTER, Vt. – Strong second half shooting, in particular from 3-point range, led the way as Saint Michael’s College swept Franklin Pierce College in Northeast-10 Conference basketball action on Saturday at the Ross Sports Center. In the opener, the Purple Knight women rallied for a 65-52 win, while the Saint Michael’s men prevailed in the nightcap, 80-73.
In the women’s contest, Saint Michael’s rallied from a 16-point deficit, outscoring the visitors 43-16 in the final 20 minutes. Junior Holly Reeves (Arlington, Mass./Arlington Catholic) came off the bench to tally a career-high 19 points, hitting 5-of-6 shots from the floor and 7-of-9 free throws, while classmate Brigid Hegarty (North Andover, Mass./Central Catholic) added 11 points for Saint Michael’s (4-8, 1-7 NE-10). Sophomore Jevy Rayner (Westminster, Vt./Bellows Falls Union) and freshman Adrienne Carpenter (Princeton, Mass./Wachusett Regional) chipped in seven points apiece as the Purple Knights shot 50 percent from the field in the game and 57 percent from 3-point land.
For Franklin Pierce (7-4, 4-3), sophomore Mollie Stelmack (New Westminster, B.C.) notched a game-high 23 points, 20 of which came in a first half in which the Ravens outscored the Purple Knights, 36-22.
In the second half, Saint Michael’s blistered the nets, shooting 56 percent from the field, including 7-of-10 from beyond the arc. Franklin Pierce, meanwhile, shot just 25 percent after intermission, and was held scoreless in the final 6:22 as the Purple Knights ended the game with a 13-0 run to snap a three-game losing skid.
In the men’s game, freshman James Sorrentine (Pawtucket, R.I./Saint Raphael Academy) drilled eight 3-pointers on his way to a season-high 30 points as Saint Michael’s overcame 27 turnovers to hold off the Ravens. Sorrentine shot 9-of-13 from the field and added a team-high five assists in finishing just one trifecta shy of tying Mark Fizulich ’97 for the program record for 3-pointers in one game. He also is the first Purple Knight to score 30 in a game since Mike Keating (Saint Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall) did so versus Saint Rose Feb. 5, 2003.
Three other Purple Knights scored in double figures. Senior Eric Swiezynski (Wilmington, Mass./Wilmington) netted 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting, while junior BJ Robertson (Burlington, Vt./Burlington) and sophomore Chris Cayole (Burlington, Vt./Rice Memorial) added 10 points apiece as Saint Michael’s (5-8, 2-6) shot 56 percent from the field, including 59 percent in the second half. The Purple Knights also hit 14-of-26 3-pointers, good for 54 percent.
For Franklin Pierce (3-9, 1-6), freshman Mitchell Johnson (Nassau, Bahamas) recorded 23 points, junior Justin Powell (Brookline, Mass.) added 13 points, and sophomore Darryl Minnifield (Boston, Mass.) chipped in 12 points.
After a see-saw first 17 minutes that featured four ties and seven lead changes, Saint Michael’s took control by scoring the final 13 points of the period to lead, 44-32, at the break. The hosts stretched their lead to as much as 15 points in the second half before holding off Franklin Pierce in the closing minutes.
Saint Michael’s returns to action on Tuesday, as the Purple Knights visit league-rival Southern New Hampshire University in a doubleheader. Saint Michael’s returns home to host Bentley College on January 17, with the women playing at 5:30 p.m. and the men at 7:30 p.m.
Women's Box Score
Men's Box Score###PURPLEKNIGHTS###
For more information please contact the SMC Sports Information Office at (802) 654-2537
Last Revised: October 25, 2002